A YEAR OF TRIUMPHS & HEARTBREAKS FOR INDIAN SPORT

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The year 2024 stood out as a turning point for Indian sports, with historic achievements across cricket, athletics, chess and parasports, balanced by a few near-misses. From cricketing milestones to Olympic grit, Paralympic breakthroughs and chess dominance, 2024 was a testament to India’s growing stature in global sports. The triumphs and challenges of the year highlighted both progress and the need for consistent excellence. Dates like June 29, July 30 and December 12 became milestones for Indian sports fans, symbolising moments of pride and progress.

T20 World Cup victory after 17 years

India ended an over-decade-long wait to win the ICC T20 World Cup under Rohit Sharma, overcoming a history of knockout-stage disappointments. This victory reaffirmed India’s cricketing dominance. Under Rohit's inspirational leadership, the Indian men’s cricket team made history with a thrilling sevenrun victory over South Africa in the ICC T20 World Cup final. The dramatic win, marked by breathtaking performances and nail-biting moments, will be remembered for years to come. Rohit's calm and strategic captaincy was the key in guiding the team through pressure-filled situations. As the final ball was bowled, fans erupted in joy across the nation, flooding the streets and waving the Indian tricolour. This historic triumph was more than just a victory in sport; it was a moment of national pride and unity.

Legends say goodbye: The year also marked the retirements of cricket icons Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli (from T20 internationals), along with Ravichandran Ashwin, who stepped away after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The victory ended an 11-year ICC trophy drought for India but, with Kohli and Rohit Sharma's retirement from T20 internationals adding an emotional element to the win.

Additionally, this was also the last tournament of Rahul Dravid as India's head coach. Ashwin took the cricketing world by surprise as he announced his retirement from international cricket. The announcement came minutes after the Day 5 play of the 3rd Test between India and Australia was called off due to rain.

First time in 91 years: The fortress had been breached already. For the first time in their Test history, which goes back to 1933, the 'Tigers' at home had been whitewashed in a series of three or more games. November saw the Rohit Sharma-led team face India's first home Test series defeat in 12 years, with a 0-3 whitewash by New Zealand, even in the absence of Kane Williamson.

Bopanna reigns supreme: Despite a challenging 2024 for Indian tennis, a few bright spots offered hope for the future. Rohan Bopanna's historic Australian Open triumph made him the oldest first-time World No. 1 in men’s doubles, while Sumit Nagal broke into the ATP Top 100, showcasing Indian tennis’s enduring potential.

Puja Tomar's UFC breakthrough: Puja Tomar etched her name in history as the first Indian to win a UFC fight, defeating Brazil’s Rayanne dos Santos in a gripping strawweight bout. The 30-year-old secured a split-decision victory with scores of 30-27, 27- 30, 29-28, marking a significant milestone for Indian athletes on the global combat sports stage.

Vinesh's heartbreak moment: Despite these successes, heartbreak loomed as Vinesh Phogat faced disqualification in wrestling, and other athletes, including Lakshya Sen and Mirabai Chanu, narrowly missed podium finishes.

Paris Oly: Mixed fortunes

India’s campaign in Paris yielded six medals (one silver, five bronze), a strong showing despite several near-misses.

Neeraj Chopra: Secured a silver medal in javelin, adding to his legacy after his Tokyo 2020 gold.

Men’s Hockey Team: Clinched a second consecutive Olympic bronze, overcoming Spain 2-1 after a narrow loss to Germany.

Manu Bhaker: Won bronze in the 10m air pistol mixed team event, partnering with Sarabjot Singh, redeeming herself after a challenging Tokyo outing.

Paralympics: Record-breaking success India’s para-athletes delivered their best-ever performance, winning 29 medals (7 gold, 9 silver, 13 bronze) and finishing 18th on the medal table.

Stars like Avani Lekhara, Sumit Antil and Mariyappan Thangavelu set new records, inspiring the nation with their resilience and skill.

Chess: India’s golden year D ecember brought great glory as 18-year-old D Gukesh became the youngest-ever FIDE World Chess Champion, breaking Garry Kasparov’s long-standing record. Indian men’s and women’s teams won gold at the Chess Olympiad. Koneru Humpy added another feather to India’s cap, clinching the Women’s Rapid World Championship.